"Rho Aias!!"
Brilliant sunset light blossomed, azure radiance flickering across Ritsuka's cheeks.
With a hissing sound, Ritsuka clenched her teeth. Her mana was nearly depleted, and even her outstretched arm trembled slightly.
Five enormous petals stood before her.
Ritsuka had first attacked with a famous Familia's ultimate technique, then used a defensive ability only Finn, Gris, and Lefiya had seen. Her actions stirred unrest within the group.
Then, the shield of light crumbled apart...
"Aaaaargh!"
"Ritsuka!"
An incomparably dazzling light arrived in an instant. The torrent that had broken through the shield was composed of countless particles of light, its terrifying corrosiveness and mana shattering the shield.
Amid everyone's cries, the torrent struck Ritsuka's body.
Her arm dissolved, her ceremonial robe shattered into strips, and her narrowed eyes shone brilliantly.
A surge of mana suddenly erupted from Ritsuka's body as she stood before Riveria, crimson aura rolling forth once more.
Twelve Trials.
Her flesh continuously dissolved, then regenerated at high speed. Ritsuka's arm vanished in an instant, only to rapidly grow back.
Her cheeks cracked under the intense heat, then instantly recovered, like witnessing a legendary miracle once again.
The torrent gradually weakened, nearing dissipation.
Ritsuka's legs buckled, and she dropped to one knee. Her 'exposed' body rapidly repaired itself beneath a scarlet membrane of light.
At the same time, the being Ritsuka had attacked revealed its form...
The anguished sounds of falling trees echoed through the area. It was a gigantic monster roughly six meters tall, a humanoid monster with a physique similar to the worm-like monsters that had appeared earlier.
Its worm-like lower body remained unchanged.
However, above its mountain-like swollen torso was a smooth curve—a human-like upper body, taking the form of a woman.
Its yellow-green skin looked as though someone had poured multicolored paint over it.